Dental chair unit



c. w. JOHNSON TAL 294499335 Sepia. i4, 194.

DENTAL CHAIR UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 17, 1945 lbf/@velar Carra/7 Wjeswfz c. w. JOHNSON ETAL. 2,449,385

DENTAL CHAIR UNIT Sw@ m, was.

v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1945 V l Y w @aww/ WJ/asofe .Jan 7.7 Cia??? M .iforn eggs Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL CHAIR `UNIT Carroll W. Johnson, Chicago, and John 'l.lClark,l` i w Cicero, Ill.

Application September 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,834

2` Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement lin operator supports for use with chairs in which a patient or subject is seated. l

One purpose is to provide a support upon which an operator, such as a dentist, may rest his weight orbe seated while he is working upon a patient. l

Another purpose is toprovide such a support in which the dentist or other operator may readily change his position in relation to the patient, while operating on the patient.

Another purpose is to provide an improved base and support associated, for example, with a dentist chair.

Another purpose is to provide such a support which is readily adjustable about and toward and i away from such a chair.-

Another purpose is to provide sucha support which has associated with it eflicient control means for operating mechanisms, for example, electrically operated mechanismsused in dentistry.

Another purpose is to'provide an improved support which maybe used in any situation where a patient or subject is seated or positioned at a generally xed point, and where the operator,ffor example a dentist, surgeon or barber, may freely move himself in relation to the patient or subject, with a minimum of effort, and with a continuous control of various mechanisms employed upon the patient or subject.

Another purpose is to provide an improved assembly orlayout in which the operator has ready access both to the patient or subject in a chair, and to other mechanisms, or adjacent furniture.

Other purposes will appear from timeto time in the course of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated` more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a typical layl enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;`

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on an enlarged l scale on the line `3-3 of Figure 1, with soine parts shown in different position in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and 3 g Figure 6 is a vertical section illustrating a variant form of support for the chair structure; Like parts 'are indicated by like `symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings! generally indicates a floor of the oice or room in which our invention is employed. 2 generally indicates a chair structure, the details of which are not of them- 2 selves part of the `present invention.` it is shown as including a relatively extended base portionVS. In the particular showing of Fig.` 1 a dental chair is indicated, but theiinvention may be employed in connection with a chair or support employed by eye, ear, nose `or throat specialists, oralsurm geons, barbers, etc. 4 indicates conventionally a dental standwhich may have associated `therewith various mechanisms whicha dentistemploys, including drills, etc.` Such mechanisms are in the main omitted but we illustrate awater bowl 5 and a lamp 6. l generally indicates an adjacently positioned X-ray` apparatus having a heard 8 mounted on1 any sutableextendable link# age 9 the details of which donot formfpartof the present invention. I9 is any suitablel cabinet in whichltools and equipment'may be stored and upon the uppersurface of which toolsland equipment may be` laid out. 1 I

Referring particularly to the structure ofthe invention, Il indicates a flat base portionwhich may be of any suitable form and which Vfor convenienceweillustrate ashaving an outer generally arcuate edge "l2 andanarcuate edge|3 of smaller radius, the twoedges beingconnected by generally rectilinear edge `portionslllt and l5. The portion I3 preferably conformsgenerally to fthe contour of the base 3 of thedentalchair 2. The dental chair maybe supported upon thepbase Il` by any suitable` contactmembers I6, which are effective to space thebottom of the chair 3 somewhat above the upper surface of thejbase `I I as shown for example in Fig. 4.` `The portion Il of the `base surrounded by the edgelZ -may be generally concentricwith the center of the chair indicated at X which may also form the center of the arc I3, although otherforms maybe practical. It will be understood, however,` that wide variations in size, shape and proportion may be made,

l and the enlarged portion `.of the plate 4may be omitted, if desired. l i

l1 generally `indicates a radius member or supporting arm for the below described seat or support structure. It may be pivoted for example by the pin `lil which is centered'preferably somewhat to the rear of the chair axis X. `The base plate ll may be provided with a plurality of apertures 2li. Penetrating these `apertureswe show `the pivot pin I8 which extends into an aperture 22 in the arm Il. If desired a plurality of such pins may be employed which may be selectively received in the aperture22, of the member llora single pin may be employed, connected to the member I 'l itself, which may be selectively inserted in anyone of the apertures 2li.` It is desirable however, that the center about which the member lTrotates be somewhat adjustable toward and away from the center X, `and it j is practical to have such center `adjustable .generally along a line rearwardly extending from the central axis X of the chair 2. A washer I9 may be employed@y to eliminate friction. 'Wefmayiemploy a widevariety ofl-.seats or supports butwe illustrate a seat including the outer hollow rod 25 With its upper strengthening or reinforcing and locking enlargement 26, shown as asplitring having ears 2, and a locking element28. 'The upper end of the rod 21 may.1be"splitz as;.jat .29

to permit ready locking adjusting. The rod 2.il.isI

supported upon a movable base. 30..to which. it may be welded or otherwise secured as at 25a. This constitutes in effect a supportingcarriage which may have any suitable rollers or supports 3 I, which :rest upon-i4 the upper. surface of the plate 'I-I,. orupon the .ioor VI, if theplate is-reduced in-size. The'carriageSt) isradially adjustable-along the. radius. member l1. The terminal.portion-o-fthemember I1 may forexample be undercut at its sides .as `-at IIa. The member 30..is.apertured as at 30a to. conform generally .to the terminalportion-.of .the member Il. It may be slid .therealongtoward oraway from the centerabout which .the .member Il rotates .and may be locked@int-anyrfdesired.adjustment, for example by .the-set screw32. 33 is .an inner rod vertical-1yadjustabletinv thel hollowv sleeve 25. It may-be locked lin.1: ositionat anydesired adjust- 4 ports the chair base, and is spaced from the base plate H by supporting means IOI.

. ltwill 13e-realized that,="whereas,.lwe have dei scribed: andA illustrated@ ai. practical i and.. operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made .sin the size, shape, number and disposition of partswithout departing from the spirit of our invention.

We therefore wish our description :andrdrawings'totbeztaken as in a broad sense il- :l'ustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting us to our precise showing.

mentVwithin a substantial range, by ,the lock- Y ing;.actionof themember 28. .It ,has .an ,upper bore -34 4terminatingat. thebottom inanupwardly concave .bearing seat35. 36 is a rotatable seat carrying stern having a concave'-` lower end 37 terminating in .the/bearing pointv 38 which.. rests uponjthey center of the seat 35. 39 Vis aflan'ge supporting .anysuitable seat .element 40. The seat element"40 `may ber of sponge. rubber or vany other suitable material, ofjthe proper form and consistency tosupportthe user. is any suitable'control'.v box for "thefchair; having any suitable elevating,V lockingor' 'lowering means; such as the various'pedals 46. '41 is a'fl'exible conduit,which may carry a'plurality of electric-conductora not hereinshown', such as maybe necessary for operating theV various vmechanisms upon'the pedestal 4. Vi-'4is la controlbox,=which may be mounted on the 'member l1. AIt mayforexample be mounted on a lateralenlargementor extension Hb Vof the member I1. 'It-may'. have'any'suit'able actuating members, control switches or I'the like, indicated as ati-49' and, the formernbeingLbuttons and the flatter flevers.' both' ofzwhich .are readily operated by' the feet of the loperator-while he issittinguponthe .seatJlEL .It'will'be observed that the arcor Amovement of. theseat is so llocated that the operator, without leavingthe seat 40, and usingfhis feet to 'control .his position, mayA have access tothe patient from about an arc-exceedingr 180;idegrees. :While he is lon th-e seat 40, the controla-members:49.-and'- 50 of 4the control'box are readilyy available,v asaref the cont-rol,J pedals 46 of' theizchair. vHe -mayrzreadi-ly. vpropel himself by engagingthe'iioorror'thebase Il with :his feet, throughout. thegpos'sible rarcgof, movementyof the support l1. 1At 'onelimit ofmovem'ent'he has accessatol the cabinet-l0. .At ,theother. limit of movementhehas Iready accesszboth tozthe pedestal 4and the .X-ray lmechanism-.1. t We find it advantageous to so: lay. out .the various equipment used for. example by a .dentist cran. oral. surgeon, that-.the dentiste-orf surgeon, has access to all the material'he needsfandto all the mechanisms he normally :;uses',without leaving thei-seatvv40.

. InFig.f6--wer illustrate. aI variant. Lform .of base in which an upper plate |00 receives and sup- CAD "For example `the supporting and pivoting .meansi may be widely varied. The shape of the seat 40 may be varied. The shape and proportions ..-of.the..member .l |...may be vwidely varied. .The-.control box may be..positioned on the base plate Il, and providedzwithbperating vmeans accessibletothepperator atl all .positions of the seati4. .Whereaswe illustrate ya substantially extended.member. ofrsheet. material which .may be of metal, We employ a base of softer or lighter materia-1preierably withan arcuatetrack Ha ofi :metal or. other `suitable .hard material, for .receiving. therollers. or gwheels` 3l or .their equivalent. The track Haisdotted in in Fig.3, "toin dicate itsiloca-tion. ..Or.we..may permit the rollers 3 l to engage thefloor.

The use and operation of the invention .are ras follows:

1ndentistry .the dentistprdinarily works while standing on his feet. This. involvesa 4serious physcalstrain and frequently results in.corns. fallen-:archesandother..troubles.of the feet, leg joints and spine. 1 However, if. the dentist employs a-seat,ithe.problem ofshiftng the seatin the course of his work necessitates the use of a `movable seat. -Whereaszdentistry is now an oldart, anddentalfequipment has. reached a high degree offspecialization, it'has not up to now been possiblefor .the dentistto nd any available :readily movable seat-Which caribe practically usedv during .his Work. The v:presentinvention `iills this gap.and;fprovides .aseat. lupon which the` dentist maysrestl alsubstantial .-.part of Vhis weight, without any sacrifice of hismobilityduring the work he does `on.. .hispatients With. reference for example toFig.v l, the seat 4l] may be swung at will, bythe :feet ofthedentistto renderavailableall of A:the-equipmentwhich va dentist normally uses, includingv .the-.drill and tray, .not herein-shown, mounted -on.'.the pedestal-4, the cabinet -l and theiXfrayeequipment 1. :The :dentist can move readilyfabout .the-:patient :throughout the arc of sufficient extent to give him complete access to the? mouthY of the-patient from all the angles fromfwwhich :he .normally works. The chair also may be swungasideiffnecessary to permit the dentist ytofworkorr his-feet. The controls of the chair are withinreach' of thedentist at all times, as .ff-are the yfoot controls for the mechanisms mounted on .the pedestal 4. Thus .the dentist has availableatall times alloffthe equipment he uses, andis,v able tomaintain a seated posture without any loss of control and without any perceptible restriction. of .his movements. The. mechanism may be set or adjusted forthesizeof the dentist, the. .locationfand .shape of. the dental. chair and the. vneeds of f the..particular. case. Ordinarily .an initial adjustment in. relation tothe size of the chair andthe. habitsand. convenience of dentists isfenough. This adjustment. includes theadjustable,eccentricV center about which thesupport rotates, the .distanceofthe support fromthe centerI about which Iit rotates, and.. the height. of .the seat 4U upon which the dentist sits.

Whereas we have described our invention as applied to a dental oiice it will be understood that it will also apply, with slight changes, to the ofiices of oral surgeons and, in general, to offices of eye, ear, nose and throat specialists. It may also be employed by barbers and in any other situation wherein a dentist, surgeon, barber or investigator does his work upon a patient or subject seated in a predetermined position, where it is necessary for the operator to 'move about the patient in the course of investigation, treatment or service.

The eccentric pivoting of the seat 40, in relation to the chair, is highly advantageous, and permits complete mobility and ready laccess to the patient.

We claim:

1. In a seat assembly `for use with a vertically axised rotatable dental chair having a floor engaging base, a plate formed and adapted to be positioned beneath such base, said plate being adjustably fixed and frictionally held on the oor by the weight of the chair base, when positioned beneath such base, a horizontally extending arm member located adjacent the oor and pivoted to said plate for rotation about a center adjacent the edge of said base, a stool supported on the outer end of said arm, said plate being readily shiftable about the axis of the chair base to adjust the center of rotation of the arm about the center of the chair base, to vary the arc of swing of said stool, and a control box mounted on and movable with said arm, said control box having movable control elements with parts extending laterally from said control box and located closely adjacent the floor level.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a stool adjustable toward and away from pivot of the arm.

CARROLL W. JOHNSON. JOHN T. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 336,220 Farrar Feb. 16, 1886 375,954 Robb Jan. 3, 1888 464,046 Steese Dec. 1, 1891 715,147 Redington Dec. 2, 1902 963,595 Lerro July 5, 1910 1,011,725 Benham et al. Dec. 12, 1911 1,155,541 Bardin Oct. 5, 1915 1,352,409 Hoefener Sept. 7, 1920 2,087,932 Zola et a1 July 27, 1937 2,308,812 Jankelson Jan. 19, 1943 2,311,566 Newton et al Feb. 16, 1943 

